We’ve all been there … Tired, hungry and achy after a gruelling day out shopping, dreading the mere prospect of walking home laden with heavy shopping bags.
But have you ever thought to call an ambulance to take you home because your feet are sore and tired?
Well that’s exactly what a 32-year-old woman did in Stratford-Upon-Avon, and let’s just say it didn’t go down too well with the authorities.
We are not surprised!
A recording of the call has been released by the service.
Remember the woman who called us because her feet hurt? Here’s the actual call https://t.co/OggeUvDD7f pic.twitter.com/Ty3ZwvCpzZ
— WMAS (@OFFICIALWMAS) September 1, 2016
Calling 999 the woman said: “Erm, sorry about this but I’ve been on my feet all day and now my feet are hurting me so much that I can’t walk. They’re burning.”
She added: “I’ve just got two miles to walk home and I’m not going to make it in this condition.”
When she was told she wouldn’t be taken home, she replied: “What will you do then?”
The caller hung up when the dispatcher tried to tell her an ambulance would take her to hospital if there was a medical reason for her not being able to walk.
Is she serious?
West Midlands Ambulance Service dispatcher Jo Bird tweeted about the incident with the hashtag #notataxiservice”.
Female-age 32 has just called 999 as her feet are hurting after being out shopping all day & wants a ride home #999abuse#notataxiservice
— Jo Bird (@wmasjobird) August 30, 2016
A service spokesman said: “The caller said that she had been on her feet all day and couldn’t walk anymore as her feet were burning.
“She didn’t want to go to hospital as she can’t get back but wants to go home.
“She became angry when advised we would not be taking her home or that we wouldn’t take her home from the hospital either.”
Whilst I think we can all sympathise especially if in heels .. not an appropriate use of a life saving ambulance service … #choosewell
— Jo Bird (@wmasjobird) 30 August 2016
West Midlands Police have used this case to illustrate the issue of nonsense calls and to highlight the fact that the emergency services are for emergency situations only, people.
Got that?